Real Illusions: Reflections is the seventh studio album by guitarist Steve Vai, released on February 22, 2005, through Epic Records.Westergaard, Sean. "Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-12-12. The album reached No. 147 on the U.S. Billboard 200,"Real Illusions: Reflections - Steve Vai | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-12-12. as well as No. 88 on the Dutch albums chart and No. 110 on the French albums chart."Steve Vai - Real Illusions: Reflections (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
Described by Vai as "rock fable", Real Illusions: Reflections is the first part of a three-part concept album about a town visited by the godsent Pamposh and his construction of the Church.Vai, Steve (2005). "Inside Real Illusions: Reflections". vai.com. Retrieved 2014-12-12. "Lotus Feet", purposely designated as track seven (see The Seventh Song) and recorded live during three separate concerts in the Netherlands during Vai's 2004 "Aching Hunger Tour", was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 2006 Grammy Awards."48th Grammy Awards - 2006". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-12-12. Vai cites Bulgarian wedding music as having inspired "Freak Show Excess".rkkrah (2008-03-03). "Steve Vai demonstration - Freak Show Excess". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
Critical reception
Sean Westergaard at AllMusic gave Real Illusions: Reflections a positive review, listing "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee", "Firewall", "Yai Yai", "Freak Show Excess" and "Lotus Feet" as highlights. He also remarked favorably about Vai's singing: "As a vocalist, he's gotten way more confident, and while it's doubtful his singing will ever be the primary attraction, he does a fine job here."
Track listing
Personnel
Steve Vai – lead vocals, guitar, all instrumentation (except where noted), engineering, mixing, production Jeremy Colson – drums, percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10) Gregg Bissonette – percussion (track 5), additional percussion (tracks 4, 6, 10) Billy Sheehan – bass Bryan Beller – bass (track 7) Jerry Hey – trumpet (track 5) Gary Grant – trumpet (track 5) Dan Higgins – saxophone (track 5) Larry Williams – saxophone (track 5) Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone (track 5) Charlie Loper – trombone (track 5) Stacy Ellis – background vocals (track 5) Metropole Orkest – orchestra (track 7) Chris Opperman – piano (track 7) Pia Vai – harp (track 11) Fire Vai – spoken vocals (track 11) Laurel Fishman – spoken vocals (track 11) Ruby Birman – spoken vocals (track 11) Len Birman – spoken vocals (track 11) Jeff Mallard – spoken vocals (track 11) Michael Mesker – spoken vocals (track 11) Thomas Nordegg – spoken vocals (track 11) David Kole – orchestration (track 7) Dick Bakker – conducting (track 7) Neil Citron – engineering assistance Paul Bliven – engineering assistance Bernie Grundman – mastering
Chart performance Year Chart Position2005Billboard Independent Albums15Dutch albums chart88French albums chart110Billboard 200147Billboard Top Internet Albums147Greek Albums25Ελληνικό Chart
Awards Event Title Award Result2006 Grammys"Lotus Feet"Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceNominated
References
External links In Review: Steve Vai "Real Illusions: Reflections" at Guitar Nine Records